A Western Power employee has been sacked following two serious incidents, including one which left a Mandurah boy in a critical condition earlier this year.
On March 16, John Tonkin students Tariq Rowles and Chevaunne Bussola, were walking to school when they received electric shocks from a damaged streetlight on Education Drive in Greenfields.
Chevaunne was taken to Peel Health Campus and was treated for minor injuries, but Tariq was left in a critical condition and was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital.
Western Power executive manager Dave Fyfe confirmed on Monday morning that the employee, who was “one of the contributing factors” to the Greenfields incident, had been stood down and placed in an education and training program.
When investigations showed the employee was also responsible for a second incident in Baldivis in January 2014, Western Power terminated the employee.
“In March this year, Western Power was involved in an incident involving a faulty streetlight in Greenfields,” he said.
“It appears that one of the contributing factors to the incident was that an employee mistakenly re-energised the streetlights incorrectly.
“During our subsequent investigations of the Greenfields incident, it was identified that the employee carried out work on an earlier electricity project that resulted in an incident.
“At the time the work was carried out, the individual was employed by a third party contractor.”
The other incident resulted in a Baldivis property owner requiring medical treatments for burns caused by attempting to move a piece of electrical equipment, called a mini pillar, located on the verge.
Western Power continues to work with EnergySafety to finalise its investigation into the Greenfield incident.
